The Birmingham Art Collective’s The Show at Woodlawn attracted many people from all over the Birmingham metropolitan area to this historic neighborhood for a night of art, music, and poetry. I am pleased to have partnered with The Collective, Main Street Birmingham, and several other members of our community to increase awareness of the revitalization efforts underway in Woodlawn, highlight the work of several incredible artists, and bring attention to upcoming cultural and economic development opportunities.
Historically, arts and culture have played a key role in rebuilding cities, and many in Woodlawn are honing in on this trend. In “Cultivating ‘Natural’ Cultural Districts,” Mark J. Stern and Susan C. Seifert state:
Their social impact on neighborhoods is the arts’ critical link to economic revitalization. Empirical research suggests that culture–like other forms of civic engagement–strengthens relationships among local neighborhood members as well as their determination to be involved in community life. At the same time, because of the participation patterns it generates; culture, more than other activities, fosters connections across neighborhoods and social groups. This dual role–strengthening communities and building bridges between them–best explain’s culture’s effectiveness.
There is definitely some momentum in Woodlawn and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with others who have common hopes for this place and its people. If the local residents, business owners, and organizations like The Birmingham Art Collective continue to move forward with a spirit of collaboration and a shared vision, those of us who wish to see Woodlawn become a vibrant cultural district might get exactly what we want.
Print by Jill Marlar, one of The Show at Woodlawn’s featured artists.